As the workplace continues to evolve, the hybrid work model has proven it’s here to stay. In 2025, more companies are embracing flexible schedules, rotating in-office days and remote work options. While this model may provide benefits for both employers and employees, it presents new cleaning challenges for facilities management professionals.
The Shift Towards Flexibility
The shift to hybrid work models is changing how spaces are used and when they’re occupied. Offices that once buzzed with employees five days a week now see fluctuating occupancy patterns, with peak traffic often occurring mid-week. Offices see lower usage on Mondays and Fridays.
What Does this Mean for Cleaning?
With these changes, your current cleaning schedules may no longer be efficient. For example, a deep clean on a Monday evening after an empty office day wastes time and resources. Cleaning routines should align with actual in-office attendance. This is where hybrid cleaning comes into play.
Hybrid Cleaning
It’s important for facility cleaning teams to reimagine their cleaning strategies to align with the changing workplace demands. Take a look at occupancy patterns and utilize real-time feedback to tailor cleaning routines. This might mean increasing disinfecting of high-touch surfaces mid-week and scaling back on low-traffic days.
Key components of a hybrid strategy include:
- Dynamic Scheduling: Cleaning teams adjust their routines based on actual office usage, optimizing labor and resources.
- IoT & Smart Sensors: Technology plays a pivotal role in hybrid cleaning. Sensors placed throughout the facility monitor foot traffic, space usage, and even restroom supply levels. This data allows cleaning teams to make informed decisions, focusing efforts where and when they’re truly needed.
- Daytime Presence: With employees in the office for fewer days, the perception of cleanliness is still just as important. A visible cleaning presence during peak hours helps reassure employees and enables teams to respond quickly to spills, restocking needs, or unexpected issues.
- Sustainability Focus: Hybrid cleaning avoids overuse of chemicals and resources. Additionally, today’s workforce increasingly values sustainability. Using environmentally friendly products and processes not only supports a healthier planet but also strengthens employee satisfaction.
- Continuous Communication and Feedback: Hybrid cleaning thrives on collaboration. Regular communication between facilities managers, cleaning staff, and building occupants ensures services remain aligned with evolving needs. Feedback loops help identify problem areas, adjust routines, and continuously improve the level of cleanliness.
Cleaner Spaces, Happier Employees
Keeping up with today’s flexible work model means cleaning strategies need to be just as adaptable. Using a hybrid model helps ensure workplaces stay clean, healthy, and welcoming no matter how often employees are on-site. As hybrid work continues to redefine the modern workplace, cleaning strategies must evolve alongside it, setting a new standard for efficiency.
Kurt Kuempel is the vice president of GSF USA, a sustainable commercial cleaning company that carefully considers the impact of cleaning on people and the planet.